The Madec Family Legacy: Lessons in Leadership
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To celebrate leadership excellence in French oyster farming, the story begins with family patriarch Yvon Madec, current oysterman at the helm of the company enterprise and the four generations before him. Understanding Yvon as a contemporary leader requires a look back in time to put his remarkable accomplishments into historical context. Much like those before him, Yvon was careful to continue the rich French tradition of oyster farming established in Prat- AR-Coum. The Madec family business began in 1898 with Yvon’s great grandfather Alain. Alain Madec challenged oyster farming notions with his neighbor M. Delamare de Bouteville, a man who most notably, was also known as the first inventor of the car motor, which he proudly displayed during the 1900 world exhibition. Yvon’s father, Alain, was sixteen years old when he started working the family oyster business after his father’s early death. At that time, he grew the oysters in the abers (rivers) exclusively. In 1973, Yvon Madec began learning ostréiculture beside his father. In 1985, he took the helm of Prat-AR-Coum's reins. He pursued the development of the "family enterprise" with a strong stake in the European standards and traditions that had begun generations before him. Every generation of the Madec family brought its stone to Prat-AR-Coum's building, passing on through the years the know-how of their forefathers. Henceforth, the fifth generation of the Madec family makes its entrance to the company, with Yvon’s daughter Caroline.
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About the Book
This generational leadership story illuminates the amazing career of Yvon Madec and his family’s historical legacy in oyster farming. Madec has forged his career while simultaneously mentoring his daughter, Caroline, who works side by side with her father at their Brittany, France oyster farm. Their story offers food enthusiasts and leadership professionals a unique tutorial on family centered leadership and succession planning in French gastronomy. In this multi-generational profile, Yvon Madec and his family legacy is uncovered through discovery of their unique regional terroir, the ocean and aber products they yield. We will look deep into Yvon’s craft as an oysterman and the leadership composition of father and daughter, divided by generations, yet unified by a common interest in refinement and perfection.
About the Author
Thomas A. Maier has a PhD in leadership philosophy and a master’s degree in human development/international relations. He has been successful in producing several refereed academic scholarly publications. His published academic journal articles have appeared in hospitality’s top-refereed journals. The focus of Dr. Maier’ research falls into two distinct categories: multi-generational leadership and revenue optimization. His ethnographic series of family-generational biographies feature Frances finest gastronomic families in food, wine and oyster farming. Parisian Michelin Chef *** Guy Savoy, Hospitality Leadership Lessons in French Gastronomy, Bordeaux Winemaker -Jean Pierre Amoreau, Generational Leadership and Sustainable Practices in French Winemaking and Brittany Oyster Farmer Yvon Madec, The Madec Family Legacy: Lessons in Leadership.